Grain Bin Hazard Shield

ABSTRACT

A grain bin hazard shield apparatus is disclosed in the present invention comprising of outer ring, inner ring and a net wherein the outer ring and inner ring further comprising of first half ring; second half ring; fist locking hinge; second locking hinge; first set of clip connector; first set of clips; second set of clip connectors and second set of clips. The outer ring and inner ring aligned concentrically in a plane where the diameter of the outer ring is substantially larger than the diameter of the inner ring. The outer ring is connected to the outer edge of the inner ring via the net, which spans the circular area of space located between the outer edge of the inner ring and the inner edge of the outer ring. In one of the embodiment, the hazard bin shield may be provided with an electric pulley system in order to suspend the grain bin hazard shield from the roof of the grain bin. In another preferred embodiment, the grain bin shield may be power washed inside the bin or on outside the bin in order to remove the mold or chemicals.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Not Applicable

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to grain bins and, more particularly, to a safety device for reducing the risk of a suffocation accident occurring in a grain bin.

Background of the Invention

Grain bins are used in agriculture to store bulk harvests of many different types of grain. During a particularly cold winter, the grain inside the bin may freeze together, especially closer to the walls of the bin and on the surface of the grain pile. The walls of the grain bin and the surface of the pile are most exposed to cold temperatures, so the grain at these locations tends to freeze while the grain located closer to the center of the bin does not. Grain is removed through an opening in the center of the bottom of the grain bin. The warmer, free-flowing grain in the center of the bin is able to be easily removed through the bottom of the grain bin. The colder, frozen grain along the walls and surface of the pile remain stuck in place.

This can create a shell of grain with a large void where the warmer grain was previously located.

A farmer or other person viewing the grain pile from above the surface may only see what appears to be a solid pile of grain, not knowing that a “crust” has formed with a void hidden underneath. To remove the remaining grain from the bin, a person may decide to enter the grain bin and walk along the surface of the pile to break up the frozen grain. A person standing on crusted grain can be pulled down in the air space below and be covered in grain that caves in on them, or be pulled down through the grain in a matter of seconds when unloading equipment is running. Once trapped, it is nearly impossible to remove one's self from the grain. Entrapment in the grain can result in suffocation and ultimately death. The present invention provides a safety device for reducing the risk of such a suffocation accident occurring in a grain bin.

SUMMARY

There has been summarized above, rather broadly, the prior art that is related to the present invention in order that the context of the present invention may be better understood and appreciated. In this regard, it is instructive to also consider the objects and advantages of the present invention.

In view of the foregoing applications inherent in the known types of grain bin hazard shield apparatus present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved apparatus that reduces the risk of accidental deaths occurring inside the grain bin due to excessive suffocation. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide improved grain bin hazard shield apparatus which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

Therefore, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide an improved grain bin hazard shield apparatus which is designed to reduce or prevent accidents occurring involving grain carts and grain storage bins.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improved grain bin hazard shield apparatus which is strong and durable enough to handle the weight.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improved grain bin hazard shield apparatus which is easy to use and cost-efficient to manufacture.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.

Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To further clarify various aspects of some example embodiments of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawing. It is appreciated that the drawing depicts only illustrated embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan diagram of the grain bin hazard shield constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of one of the clips utilized by the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a front view of the piping tubing sections and the various components utilized by the present invention.

FIG. 3B is a side view of the piping tubing sections and the various components utilized by the present invention; and

FIG. 3C is a back view of the piping tubing sections and the various components utilized by the present invention.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. The present invention is a grain bin hazard shield which is used inside a grain bin to reduce to the risk of a suffocation-related accident occurring. With reference to FIG. 1, the grain bin hazard shield comprises an outer ring 2, a net 3 formed of snow fence type material, a hole 6 sized to match opening at top of the grain bin, cables 7 that connect the grain bin hazard shield to the grain bin which is used to raise the entire grain shield to the top of the grain bin and an inner ring 1. The outer ring 2 and inner ring 1 are aligned concentrically and in plane, where the diameter of the outer ring 2 is substantially larger than the diameter of the inner ring 1. The outer ring 2 is connected to the inner ring 1 via the net 3, which spans the circular area of space located between the outer edge of the inner ring 1 and the inner edge of the outer ring 2.

The outer ring 2 further comprises a first half ring, a second half ring, a first locking hinge 5, a second locking hinge 5, a first set of clip connectors, and a first set of stainless connecting clips 4. The first half ring and second half ring form two symmetrical semicircular halves of the outer ring 2, which are joined together at the ends by the first locking and the second locking hinge 5. Therefore, the first locking hinge 5 is located directly across the diameter of the outer ring 2 from the second locking hinge 5. The first second locking hinge 5 and second locking hinge 5 work in conjunction to allow the outer ring 2 to be folded in half along the corresponding diameter of the two hinges 5. The outer ring 2 may be folded in half in order to be fit through an access door located on the bottom of the grain bin. Once inside the grain bin, the outer ring 2 may be unfolded to its full, circular shape to be put into use. The hinges 5 lock so that the outer ring 2 remains rigid and does not accidentally fold in half.

With reference to FIG. 2, elements of the invention has been identified the stainless connecting clip 4, an anchor 9 for securing the stainless connecting clip 4 and the inner mesh 8 of the apparatus the first half ring and the second half ring may be formed as singular pieces of piping or tubing, or they may be formed from multiple sections of piping or tubing which have been permanently joined and manipulated to be the desired semicircular shapes. The outer ring 2 can be made to be any specific size, so it may be custom built for a variety of different grain bins which may have differing diameters. For any grain bin, the diameter of the outer edge of the outer ring 2 is made slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the walls of the grain bin so that the outer ring 2 may freely fit inside without coming into contact with the walls of the grain bin.

The first set of clip connectors comprises a plurality of connection points evenly spaced around the entire circumference of the outer ring. Each of the first set of clip connectors is permanently attached to the outer ring such that the connections point face radially inward toward the inner ring. Connected to the first set of clip connectors at the connection points is the first set of clips. Each of the first set of clips may be a commercially available metal carabineer, as shown in FIG. 3, or any other suitable clip with a high load capacity.

Further with reference to FIG. 3A, identifies a locking means of outer ring pipe 10, with connecting hinge 11 along with various parts, bolts 13 with attached into the bracket 12 on the outer ring pipe 10. The FIG. 3B, also describes unlocked outer ring pipe 10 showing the two connection hole 13, 14 which allows a connecting bolt 13 into it, the connection hole 13,14 placed at the two different parts of the bracket 12 connecting the two parts forming the outer ring pipe 10. Furthermore FIG. 3C describes the back view of the outer ring 10 in it locked from identifying the connecting hinge 11 and the connecting bolt 13.

The first set of stainless clips 4 serves to remove-ably connect the net 3 with the outer ring 2 at each of the evenly spaced locations of the connection points of the first set of clip connectors 9. The first set of stainless clips 4 may be threaded through the holes 6 or loops along the peripheral edges of the net 3 running parallel with the inner edge of the outer ring 2.

The net 3 is identically connected to the outer edge of the inner ring 1, thus acting as a connecting bridge between the outer ring 2 and inner ring 1. Like the outer ring 2, the inner ring 1 may be formed as a singular piece of piping or tubing 10, or it may be formed from multiple sections of piping or tubing 10 which have been permanently joined and manipulated to be the desired circular shape. The inner ring 1 can be made to any specific size which is smaller than the size of the outer ring 2. However, the diameter of the inner ring 1 preferably matches the diameter of the opening in the roof of a grain bin through which grain is poured. Therefore, the inner ring 1 forms an opening through which grain may fall such that grain bin hazard shield does not interfere with the loading of the grain bin.

The inner ring 1 further comprises a second set of clip connectors 9 and a second set of stainless clips 4. Like on the outer ring 2, the second set of clip connectors 9 comprises a plurality of connection points evenly spaced around the entire circumference of the inner ring 1. Each of the second set of clip connectors 9 is permanently attached to the inner ring 1 such that the connections point face radially outward toward the outer ring 2. Connected to the second set of clip connectors 9 at the connection points is the second set of stainless clips 4. Each of the first set of stainless clips 4 may be a commercially available metal carabineer, as shown in FIG. 3, or any other suitable clip with a high load capacity.

The second set of stainless clips 4 serves to remove-ably connect the net 3 with the inner ring 1 at each of the evenly spaced locations of the connection points of the second set of clip connectors 9. The second set of stainless clips 4 may be threaded through the holes 6 or loops along the peripheral edges of the net 3 running parallel with the outer edge of the inner ring 1.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention for installing a grain bin hazard shield into a much larger grain bin; a middle ring may be added for additional support, without making the whole unit any more complexes.

The net 3, itself is a planar mesh with holes 6 small enough that a human foot could not be placed through, but large enough so that grain or thin tools may easily pass through to the pile of grain located below. The net 3 is made of a material with a high tensile strength such that one or more people may safely walk along any portion of the net 3 without the weight of the one or people causing the net 3 to fail.

In use, the grain bin hazard shield is placed within a grain bin. An electric pulley system may be implemented in order to suspend the grain bin hazard shield from the roof of the grain bin. The electric pulley system may hoist to the grain bin hazard shield top of the grain bin in order for grain to be loaded into the bin through the opening in the roof of the bin and fall below the grain bin hazard shield. The grain bin hazard shield is axially aligned with this opening such that the inner ring 1 lies below and in line with the opening in the roof of the bin. When grain is poured through the opening, it falls through the inner ring 1. In effect, the grain bin hazard shield does not interfere with the loading of the grain bin. The holes 6 in the net 3 allow any grains that fall out of the area of the inner ring 1 to easily pass through to the pile below.

The grain bin hazard shield allows one or more people to walk along the surface of the grain pile in order to break up grain that has frozen or otherwise become stuck together. Should a crust form where a void is located beneath the surface of the grain pile, and should that crust collapse, causing the grain to cave in on the void below the surface, the net 3 of the grain bin hazard shield catches the one or more people before falling into the void and becoming entrapped in the grain. The inner ring 1 may be lowered keeping mesh level with outer ring 2 when needed.

In another preferred embodiment, the grain bin shield may be power washed inside the bin or on the outside of the bin in order to remove any mold or chemicals from that years grain before next harvest, wherein, all parts of described unit will not rust from such cleanings. The annual cleaning will allow the grain bin shield unit to last many years.

In another preferred embodiment, the grain bin shield may be power washed inside the bin or on the outside of the bin in order to remove any mold or chemicals from that years grain before next harvest, wherein, all parts of described unit will not rust from such cleanings. The annual cleaning will allow the grain bin shield unit to last many years.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

I/we claim:
 1. A grain bin shield apparatus used inside grain bin comprising: (a) an outer ring; (b) a net; (c) an inner ring; (d) net like structure, wherein the net is a planar mesh like structure made of material with a high tensile strength.
 2. A grain bin shield apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer and said inner ring are aligned concentrically in plane having the diameter of said outer ring is substantially larger than the diameter of said inner ring.
 3. A grain bin shield apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer ring is connected to said inner ring via said net.
 4. A grain bin shield apparatus used inside grain bin comprising an outer ring, wherein the outer ring further comprises of: (a) a first half ring; (b) a second half ring; (c) a first locking hinge; (d) a second locking hinge; (e) a first set of clip connectors; (f) a first set of clips
 5. A grain bin shield apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first half ring and said second half ring form two symmetrical semi-circular halves of said outer ring joined together at ends by said first locking hinge and said second locking hinge.
 6. A grain bin shield apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first locking hinge is located directly across the diameter of said outer ring from said second locking hinge.
 7. A grain bin shield apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first locking hinge and said second locking hinge works in conjunction to allow said outer ring to be folded in half along the corresponding diameter of said hinges.
 8. A grain bin shield apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said outer ring folding in order to be fit through an access door located on the bottom of said grain bin.
 9. A grain bin shield apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first half ring and said second half ring is formed as singular pieces of piping or tubing or formed through multiple section of piping or tubing permanently joined and manipulated to give desired semi-circular shape.
 10. A grain bin shield apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the diameter of the outer edge of said outer ring is made smaller than the inner diameter of walls of said grain bin allowing the outer ring to fit inside conveniently.
 11. A grain bin shield apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the each of said first set of clip connectors is permanently attached to said outer ring such that connections point face radially inward toward said inner ring.
 12. A grain bin shield apparatus used inside grain bin comprising of set of clip connectors comprising of plurality of connection points evenly spaced around the entire circumference of the outer ring.
 13. A grain bin shield apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first set of clip connectors at the connection points is first set of clips.
 14. A grain bin shield apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein each of the first set of clips is commercially available metal carabineer or any other suitable clip with high load capacity.
 15. A grain bin shield apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first set of clip connects the net with said outer ring at each of the evenly spaced locations of the connection points of first set of clip connectors.
 16. A grain bin shield apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first set of clips may be threaded through the holes or loops along the peripheral edges of net running parallel with inner edge of said outer ring.
 17. A grain bin shield apparatus used inside grain bin, wherein the inner ring may be formed as a singular piece of piping or tubing, or formed from multiple sections of piping or tubing, permanently joined and manipulated to be the desired circular shape.
 18. A grain bin shield apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the diameter of said inner ring matches the diameter of the opening in the roof of a grain bin through which grain is poured.
 19. A grain bin shield apparatus used inside grain bin, wherein the inner ring further comprises of second set of clip connectors and second set of clips.
 20. A grain bin shield apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein said second set of clip connectors comprises a plurality of connection points evenly spaced around the entire circumference of the inner ring.
 21. A grain bin shield apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein connected to said second set of clip connectors at the connection points is said second set of clips.
 22. A grain bin shield apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein each of said second set of clip connectors is permanently attached to said inner ring such that the connections point face radially outward toward the outer ring.
 23. A grain bin shield apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein said second set of clips not permanently connecting the net with said inner ring at each of the evenly spaced locations of the connection points of said second set of said clip connectors.
 24. A grain bin shield apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein said second set of clips threaded through the holes or loops along the peripheral edges of the net running parallel with the outer edge of said inner ring. 